After Dark: Hair, Feather, Scale, and Nail

If, as Erasmus said, "clothes make the man," do feathers make the bird? Wool the sheep? What can a creature's coverings communicate about its evolution?

Our bodies are bounded by our integumentary system-that is, our skin and what grows from it. Our uniquely human hair and nails are formed from keratin, the fibrous proteins shared by horns, hooves, scales, feathers, scutes, and claws, among other animal accessories. Tonight, investigate diverse and fascinating external adaptations with guests from a variety of species, and get to know the science and cultural history behind some human grooming habits.

Highlights include:

Odd Hairs and Strange Scales
With Bonnie Cromwell, Classroom Safari
Get to the point of spines and quills with a visiting porcupine and hedgehog, and let turtles and other reptiles shed light on the differences between scales and scutes, a specialized armor covering crocodilians, turtles, and some avian and mammalian species as well.

Sheep Shearing
With Marie Hoff, Capella Grazing Project
Do you know your sweater's pedigree? Sheep have long brought us warmth through their harvested wool. Meet with Marie Hoff and her flock of diminutive Ouessant sheep to get a good look at a ram both before and after his haircut.

Nail Polish Science
With Patio Plasma
See nail polish through the eyes of a scientist. Coat your nails with pigments suspended in explosive nitrocellulose dissolved in a flammable solvent for a fabulous look-then add birefringent crystals that change color when viewed at different angles. Or use ultraviolet light to photo-initiate the polymerization of gels to create smooth, shiny, colorful nails in a matter of minutes.